Carissa POV
"Um, who was that guy you bumped into earlier today in front of the store?" Daisy, my best friend, asked me after we got into an uber that was going to take us to our various homes later in the day. He had soft messy dark hair that hung over his overwhelming pale blue eyes which got me lost in them. I was almost going overboard staring at him when Daisy had hollered my name and I quickly gained my footing back, feeling abashed.
"Hey," Daisy called out to me, snapping at my face and I exhaled before turning to her and giving her my usual smile which indicated I was musing.
"You probably were zoning out this time," she said and I nodded, before grinning widely.
"I asked if you know the guy."
"No, I don't. I happened to bump into him when I had rushed out of the store, and he saved me from falling when I lost my balance."
"Ah, yes. And you were foolishly daydreaming while he held onto you. His arms were wrapped around your waist!" The driver glanced at us at the rearview mirror with furrowed brows and I huffed.
"Keep it low, Daisy," I cautioned, a bit embarrassed. "We're actually in an uber."
"That I do know," she mouthed out, glancing out through her side winded down mirror before returning her gaze to me.
"You kept me standing under the scorching heat, waiting for you while you had a strange moment in the arms of a stranger. If the bus hadn't arrived and I hadn't called out to you, I bet you probably would still be staring at the asshole."
"Asshole? Ah, no. He's charming, not an asshole. Calling him an asshole is crude." I bit my lower lip and she rolled her eyes.
The driver halted in front of my house and I got down and bidded Daisy goodnight before he drove off.
"Dad!" I shouted the very second I walked into the house. Diana, one of our maids, motioned to the dining room and headed to the dining room.
"Is my princess back?" My dad asked when I emerged into the dining room and hugged him from behind.
"Good evening dad," I greeted as I took my usual seat by his left hand side.
"Good evening mom," I said to my mother who appeared with our cook, Rosey, behind.
She glanced at me and shook her head with a grimace before taking her seat.
"You came late again, Carissa," my mother informed me.
"Oh! Really?" I gasped, placing my hand over my heart, feigning obliviousness. My mother squinted at me in disbelief.
"Check the time," she said and glanced at my phone on the table." It's past seven, Carissa."
"I'm sorry mom, I wasn't aware when the time flew and…"
"Stop pretending in front of me. I can see right through you," she said. I glanced at my dad who laughed. Goodness, I wonder how she was always able to perceive my lie.
"I told you to be home before six. You're returning hours past the time your college ended for the day. Why don't you heed to my words and act impudent sometimes. It really irks me!"
"Get over it, Joyce. Don't yell at her. She's no longer a kid," my dad said, stepping in to save me from my mom's mouthful tonight. I smiled but immediately pulled a remorseful face when my mom flicked a glare at me across the table.
I guess I'm going to be her dessert now.
"Stop butting in when I'm talking to her, Lennon. It's unreasonable of you," my mom chided him.
"Oh, my love, I'm sorry but I can't help it."
"Oh, you really can if you quit the bad habit of butting in and turn deaf ears whenever I scold her."
"Um, you're definitely right, but…" he paused.
He placed his hand on mine and sighed. "I honestly can't take it whenever you scold my princess, Joyce." I blushed and my dad chuckled.
"Crap! You both really are a pain in my neck," my mom scoffed and beckoned to Rosey standing behind her to start serving us dinner.
"Actually, mom, it's not really my fault that I came late today," I said and my mom shook her head, squinting, obviously not believing me.
"I didn't hear the sound of your car when you drove in, Carissa," she said, looking suspiciously at me.
"Exactly, mom. Uh, Dad, Bethany decided to break down after I had filled it up with gasoline. I had to go to college with Daisy by public bus and I returned home, boarding an uber."
"Oh my, I bet it was quite stressful for you," my dad said, stroking my head and I pulled a pitiable expression.
"You see, Joyce, It wasn't all Carissa's fault today. Her car, Bethany, had broken down this morning. She probably went through a lot to go to college and return."
"She could have called," my mom said, wanting to counter every excuse, and leaving me in an unjustifiable stare.
"Why didn't you call?" She asked, turning to me, and her eyes glinted with seriousness under the chandelier.
"Umm, let's say I really didn't want to bother you guys," I said, after the idea popped up in my head.
"Wow. Our daughter is such a thoughtful person," my dad cooed. "Right, Joyce?"
My mom rolled her eyes. My Dad gave me a wink and we both let out a stifled laughter.
"You both really are…"
"Woa, dinner is ready!" The voice of my elder brother, Duncan cut in as he appeared.
"Hello mom and dad, good evening!" He greeted loudly as he tossed his office bag to an empty seat and took a seat next to my mom after giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Welcome home son," my mother said in a pleasing tone. "You must be really hungry." Duncan nodded.
"Quickly serve me my food, Rosey," Duncan ordered and she did so.
"How was things in the company today?" My dad asked Duncan.
"Come on dad," Duncan said as he dropped his fork, obviously pissed. "You don't have to ask me all the time about the wellbeing of the company. I'm handling it now. You entrusted it to me so you should have faith in me," Duncan sneered before taking his fork and started eating with a long face.
"I do have faith in you. Because I entrusted the company to you few months ago to give you a chance to prove to me that you're capable of taking care of it after I transfer the the reign to you and am no more doesn't imply that I wouldn't ask about the company i had struggled to build for over thirty years and taken up to an unpredictable and distinguishing height." My father paused and Duncan lifted his gaze to him.
"Dad…"
"I'm still in control, Duncan," my dad said, and I heard Duncan let out a curse beneath his breath.
"Don't upset him, Lennon. He's working so hard to keep moving the company to greater heights. Let's have dinner peacefully, I request," my mother said.
We all started eating quietly per my mom's request - there was no one who wouldn't give in to such requests.
I tried to cower away from her gaze, which somehow bore sinisterness. Her eyes would have shot me a million times if it were some kind of mini gun.
"By the way, why did you ask Jimmy to put up an ad for a new personal driver?" Duncan asked, breaking the momentarily silence that soared the whole room.
"Hm. Got a problem with that, boy?"
"No Dad. He happened to come in late to work today and he gave a flimsy excuse that he had stopped on his way to paste a flier of the job ad. Just wanted to confirm if he wasn't lying."
"He wasn't. And, also, why take his few minutes of lateness to heart?"
"Dad he's my assistant and he ought to be at the company, at least an hour before my arrival," Duncan said, almost yelling.
"He's not really your assistant. He's now the company's manager and he was my former P.A. He's been productive and industrious for over ten years since he has been working for us. Cut him some slacks, boy. He's way older than you also."
"Spare me the lecture dad, please. You're peeving me!" Duncan said, slamming his hand on the table, startling me. My dad flicked him a stare which probably sent chills down his spines, making him exhale.
"I'm sorry," Duncan muttered an apology.
"You better get your emotions under control. I won't tolerate you getting easily irritated," my dad said.
That was it about him. He could be excessively sweet and loving most times especially to me, but, when it comes to Duncan getting quickly offended and going out of the line, he wouldn't tolerate it.
My dad was sometimes slow to anger but I really didn't fancy seeing him troubled or most especially upset. I could bear my mom's annoyance because I was used to it and most times, she gets offended because of me, but, I can't bear to see my dad upset.
"Anyways, Jackson, his former personal driver, resigned this morning," mom said.
"What! Why, dad?" I asked.
"He really wasn't happy to do so, but he had to, because he was leaving the country to return to Wales and spend the rest of his life with his wife and children," dad said.
"Oh. He was away from his family for over a decade. He probably missed them and decided to go back to live on with them. That's honestly good. I know they'll be happy to have him back," I said.
"Yes. And through my contacts, I had gotten him a job over there," my dad said and I dropped my fork.
"Really, dad?"
"Yes. He got him a job as an assistant manager of a plant owned by one of his friends over there," my mom said.
"Woa! You're so cool and good, dad," I complimented as I stood up and gave my dad a kiss on the cheek, making him laugh.
"He used to be a mere driver, not so sophisticated and your father made him have a job as an assistant manager. Wow, you're so benevolent, Lennon," mom said. My dad ignored her and chuckled at me.
Maybe he wasn't so used to my mother's flatters. Not like she gave them with a full heart most of the time.
"I wonder why you're so happy over another person's good luck. You act way childish most times, Carissa," Duncan said.
"I don't care about your opinion about me," I said bluntly and sat down as I flung my hair back.
"Anyways, dad, I can get you a new personal driver before tomorrow ends," Duncan offered.
"You don't have to worry, Duncan. Jimmy already has an applicant and he has called the person to come over tomorrow for an interview with me," my dad said.
"So, what kind of a personal driver are you looking forward to having now, dad?" I asked.
"Um, I'm not expecting much from my new driver. He just has to assure me that he's not a reckless driver and he's got to be well-behaved," he said, nodding.
"Not so much for the expectations, I guess," I said, chunking some little food in my mouth.
" I don't really want a brute as a new driver," he said.
I giggled at my dad's last words. A brute for a driver? That was too much.
"And he shouldn't be a lowlife too, dad. You forgot to add that," Duncan said and sneered.
"I mostly detest a lack-all person."
"Cut it off, Duncan. I seriously don't get it till this day why you despise destitutes. You having a strong dislike for people who have got nothing is horrible," I chided him.
"Watch it, Carissa."
"Hell no," I said, rising up. "You really incredibly annoy me when you act all like a psychopathic plutocrat and debase people from the low class."
I sighed and paused before taking my seat when my mother cast me an unpleasant look.
"Maybe you'll come to learn soon that people from the low class are humans too when you eventually have nothing…"
"Cut the crap, Carissa," mom cut in on me with almost a harsh tone which didn't scare me. "What's gotten over you?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Dad, I'm full. Can I go to my room, please?" My dad nodded with a smile.
"Goodnight dad," I said, and glanced at my mom and Duncan.
"Oh goodnight dear," he replied.
"Goodnight," I told them. They would take it if it really was important to them.
I hugged my dad and left.
This was definitely annoying. Hatred for the poor?
Absolutely ridiculous.